Your Excellency’s favour of the 28th Inst. has just came to hand.

The inclos’d are Returns of the Strength of the block house of Water Guards at Dobbs Ferry—When I tooke command of this post was orderd particularly to continue with the Water Guards, & take my Quarters at this place which is about 5 miles above the block house.

The men in the Water Guard are exceeding good, & well diciplin’d to the boats, as they have not been Reliev’d Since I have been here.

The Officer who is Lieut. Shailer of the Connecticut Line, is exceeding well acquainted with this duty, should be glad he might be continued, likewise one of the officers at the block house, by Reason of their being acquainted with the dispositions of the inhabitants, Those that are friendly as well as those which are Enemical.

I this moment found out that one of my boats has been down to Kings Bridge & Plunder’d [a family] of a few smaall things which Lieut. Shailer who has the Prisoner which commanded them with him, will give Your Excellency the particulars. Am with every Sentiment of Respect & esteem your Excellencys most Obedient and Very Humble Servant